Closure for jars, cans, and the like



Oct. 12 1926.

A. L. OLSON CLOSURE FOR JARS, CANS, AND THE LIKE Filed April 23, 1924 jr zyerzfar' finiarz Jazz/revue 01507:

Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON LAWRENCE OLSON, OF WELCI-I, MINNESOTA.

CLOSURE FOR JARS, CANS, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 23, 1924. Serial No. 708,422.

My invention relates to improvements in closures for jars, cans and the like.'

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive closure adapted to be readily applied to and removed from the neck of a container, and when so applied to hermetically seal the container.

Another object is to provide a closure of the instant nature constructed to effect a serviceable sealing grip upon the neck of a container and designed to open the container to the outer atmosphere in a seal breaking operation performed, in releasing the grip of the closure upon the container neck, preparatory to the Withdrawal of the closure from the neck.

I/Vith the foregoing and other. objects in View, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, central, sectional View of a closure embodying my invention, the same being shown as capping the threaded neck of a jar; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except that the stopper member of the closure is shown as being compressed in jar sealing relation; Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken as on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4t is a view of a closure illustrated as applied to the neck of'a can, said closure being partly broken away to show the encased resilient stopper in close conformity with the contour of the threaded neck of the can.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters are used throughout the several views to indicate like parts, it will be observed that my improved closure includes a stopper a, a sleeve 10 closely encircling said stopper, a clamping plate 11 within the sleeve 10, a cover I) for the sleeve and a combined bearing and valve element interposed between the cover I) and plate 11.

' The stopper a, formed of live rubber or other suitable resilient material, comprises a crown-piece -12 having an annular flange 13 depending therefrom, said stopper providing a cap adapted to snugly fit the neck 14 of a container 15. The crown-piece 12 is formed with a small aperture 16 reaching axially therethrough and serving a purpose soon to be explained.

The sleeve constitutes a cagefor the stopper a, said sleeve being formed with an inturned flange 17 at the bottom thereof to supply an abutment for'the flange 13 of said stopper a. Y i

The clamping plate 11 as herein disclosed, consists ofan arched disc, which is slidably guided longitudinally of the sleeve 10 and adapted to cover andbear down upon the cr0wn-p1ece12 of the stopper a. Concentric beads 18 are formed on the under side of the clamping plate 11 and a central bore or opening 19 is made in said plate, the same being beveled, as shown.

The cover 7) includes a top 20 and a flange 21 depending therefrom. The flange 21 revolubly telescopes the upper end of the sleeve 10 and the top 20 is axially depressed to betterreslst upward pressure thereagainst. A pin 22, secured at its ends in said flange 21,

reaches through diametrically opposed cam slots 23 formed sleeve 10. The combined bearing and valve element or spindle 0 depends from the center of the top 20 of the cover b'to which it is secured. The pln 22 passes through this spindle 0 medially thereof. The lower end of said spindle c is beveled to conform with the angle of the seat formed by the beveled opening 19 in the plate 11, the point 24: formed by thus beveling said spindle being suflicicntly long to reach through said opening in the upper margin of the 19 and plug the aperture 16 in the croWnpiece 12 of the stopper a.

In applying the closure to a container, the stopper (1. is slipped over the neck ofthe container (Fig. 1). -The sleeve 10 is then.

held against rotation and thecover I) turned to the right. By thus turning said cover it is brought downward on the sleeve 10 through. the coactionof the pin 22 with the cam slots 23 in said sleeve 10. This movement of the cover 6 on' the sleeve 10 carries the spindle 0 into engagement with its seat in the clamping plate 11 and said plate 11, in turn, is forced against the stopper a (Fig.

'2). Resting upon the abutment 17 on the sleeve 10 and confinedagainst outward dis tortion by said sleeve, the flange 13 of the stopper a is compressed and conforms with that portion of-the neck 14 embraced thereby. Thus distorted, under pressure of the clamping plate 11, the-flange 13 of thestopper a firmly grips the container neck 14 and supplies an efllective seal therefor. Said clamping plate 11,due to its arched form,

crowds the stock of the crown-piece 12 axk r aid ially thereof and thus closes the aperture 16 therein, the sealing effect of said aperture, in closing, being augmented by the simultaneous plugging thereo t' by the tip of the point 21 on the spindle c. The concentric beads 18 on the under side of the compression plate 11 seat themselves in the .crownpiece 12 of the stopper aand further-unsure the sealing ,Q'i the ,container. The pin 22 passing ,through .the spindle c braces the cover top 20 against distortion under ,the s ain 1 lenr s ns the s p Pla lhe cam slots 23 are arranged to correspe 1 1 th se ia sht A a t e d i a container neck, so that the final stage in the turning of the cover I) ,to complete ,the

sealing operation can be effected without holding the sleeve 10 and with the result 01" liringing the crown-piece 12 tightly against the rim of the container neckle. This effeet will he readily understood when t is remembered that the inner wall of the flange .13 is forced into conformity with the threads of the container neck during the initial stage of the turningof the cover Z),

when the user holds the sleeve {l0 against rotation. Each cam slot 23 illZIS a short, lateral reach 23 at the lower extremity thereof and the ends of the pin 22 resting in these reaches in the sealing relation of the cover Z) are secure against accidental seal break ing displacement.

In removing,theclosure figqma cgntainer, the cover 1) is turned to the left to hiring the ends ,of the pin 22 to the upper extremities of the cam slots 23. In thus loosening said cover, the compressingaetion of the plate 11 is discontinued and the spindle c withdrawn from position closing the epening l9 in said plate and plugging the aperture 16in the crown-piece 12 01 the stopper a. Yrith the pressure ,of the clamping plate 11 removed, the stopper (1, will assume its original form (Fig. 1), the opening the aperture 16 permitting of the equalization of pressures within and without the container, after which the closure may be safely and easily lifted from the neck of the container. Should the neck be threaded and the flange 13 of the stopper cling to the threads, a simple unscrewing motion of the entire closure will easily effect the removal of the same from the container.

Among the several adyantageous features resident in my improved closure are simplicity and low cost of construc ion; The

ease of application and removal of the closure coupled with ,the efiectiveness of the seal produced by the closure are also important features. i i' Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, inaybemade hin the scope of what is claimed without deaarting iron; the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A unitary device of the class described comprising a resilient stopper including a crown-pieceand a depending annular flange integral therewith, sa'id stopper being adapt ed to receive ,the neck of an ordinary container, said crown-piece having an axial aperture therein, a sleeve closely encasing said stopper and formed with cam the upper margin thereof, an inturned flange at tl iebottoin of the sleeve forming an abut- ,inent for the flange of the stepper, a cl; p ing disc slidahly guided within said slecae and superimposing the stopper, said disc having an axialopcning therein, a cover rev- ,oluble on said sleeve and dished inward at the ,top ,thereof, a bearing depending axially gtro n the inwardly dished top of said cover, the lower e d of said bearing being tapered to a point azgially thereof and adapted to seat in ,the axial opening in said clampng disc, a pin reaching through said heart ing and said cam slots .111 said sleeve and ,anchored at its ends in the flange of the H ,cover, said pin serving to relieve the top ot' thecover against strains and also cooperating with the cam slots in said sleeve to depress the cover, whereby said bearing is caused to seal the opening in the clannnng disc, plug the aperture in said stopper and forcibly bring said ,disc against the stopper. the cosoperation of said pin with said cain slots serving further to {elevate the cover, ,vhereby the hearing is lifted from position wherein saidopening and aperture are sealed thereby and the .disc forced against said stopper.

2'11 an article of the class descr'bed. a resilient stopper adapted ,to cap the necko'i' a container, a sleeve closely encircling the stopper, and formed with cam slots therein, a rest on the sleeve for the bottom of the stopper, a stopper clamping plate within the sleeve above said stopper, a cover for the sleeve having a depending flange over-reach- ,the cam slots in said sleeve, a bearing depending from the cover axially thereof and adapted to bear against said plate and a pin secured at its ends in the flange of the cover, said pin reaching through said cam slots and also ,through said bearing.

3. ;In an article of the class described, a resilient stopper adapted to receive the neck of an ordinary container, a sleeve closely encircling said stopper, an abutment at the lolwerend ofthe sleeve for the bottom of the stopper, a clamping member guided within said sleeve and superimposing said stopper, a cover on the upper end of the sleeve, a heaping depending axially from the cover and co-operating cam devices associated with said ,cover and sleeve, saidcain devices serving, upon the rotation of said cover in one direction on said sleeve, to bring said bearb'll tan

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ing against the clamping member and said member, in turn, against the stopper, whereby the latter is compressed and thereby caused to grip the container neck.

4:. In a unitary article of the class described, a resilient member adapted to closely cap the neck of a container, the crown of said cap member being formed with a venting aperture therein, a cage for said member, a compression plate formed with an opening therein and arranged within the cage above said member, a combined bearing and valve element adapted to bear against said plate and close said opening and means carried by the cage for operating said element to compress said resilient member, whereby the annular flange thereof is spread radially into neck gripping and sealing form and the crown of said member compressed to close said aperture.

5. In a unitary article of the class described, a resilient member adapted to closely cap the neck of a container, the crown of said cap member being formed with a vent ing aperture therein, a cage for said memher, a compression plate within the cage superimposing said member, andmeans on the cage for forcing the plate against said member, whereby the annular flange thereof is spread radially into neck gripping and sealing form and the crown of said member compressed to close said venting aperture.

7 6. In a device of the class described, a resilient stopper adapted to cap the neck of an ordinary container, a sleeve containing said stopper, an abutment on said sleeve for the bottom of the stopper, a stopper compressing member within the sleeve and means on the sleeve to force said member against the stopper and thereby radially spread the same into neck gripping and sealing form.

7. In an article of the class described, a resilient stopper adapted to cover the neck of a container, said stopper having an air admitting aperture therethrough, a cage for the stopper, a plate within the cage for compressing the stopper therein and means for bringing said plate to bear upon the stopper, said plate presenting a concave surface to the stopper and adapted, upon pressing against said stopper, to distort the same radially and close said aperture therein.

8. An article of the class described comprising a resilient annular member, a sleevelike cage closely encircling the same, an abutment for one end of the annular member and a second abutment movable toward and from the first abutment for the other end of the resilient annular member, said member, cage and abutments constituting parts of a unitary structure bodily applicable to and removable from the neck of an ordinary container, said resilient member, in the normal form thereof, being adapted freely to receive thecontainer neck, and means constituting an additional part of said unitary structure for moving one abutment with respect to the other to compress the resilient member axially thereof and thereby spread said member radially inward, within its peripherally confining cage, into neck gripping form.

9. An article of the class described comprising a resilient member, an abutment for one end thereof and a'second and relatively V movable abutment for the other end thereof,

said member and abutments constituting parts of a unitary structure bodily applicable to and removable from the neck of an ordinary container, said resilient member being adapted, in its normal form, to be readily applied to the container neck preparatory to sealing the same, and means constituting an additional part of said unitary structure for moving one abutment with respect to the other to compress the resilient memberaxial- 1y thereof andthereby spread said member radially into neck gripping form.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ANTON LAWRENCE OLSON. 

